Network Analysis of Emotional Intelligence Dimensions and Related Psychological Resources in Military Personnel

Background: Psychological adaptation in high-demand contexts such as the military depends on the interaction of multiple emotional and psychological resources. Previous research has mainly examined emotional intelligence, resilience, and self-esteem using latent variable approaches, limiting understanding of how these variables dynamically interact within a broader network of interacting psychological resources. Objective: The present study aimed to analyze the network of relationships among emotional intelligence dimensions, resilience, and self-esteem, identifying the most central variables, their degree of clustering, and the strength of their associations. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 739 Spanish military personnel (M = 33.29; SD = 7.48). A regularized partial correlation network was estimated using the EBICglasso method (γ = 0.5). Centrality indices (strength and expected influence), clustering coefficients, and node predictability were analyzed. Network accuracy and stability were assessed through bootstrap procedures. Results: The estimated network showed moderate connectivity, indicating meaningful interrelations among emotional intelligence dimensions, resilience, and self-esteem. General mood and adaptability emerged as the most central nodes within the network. Resilience showed strong positive associations with adaptability and general mood, whereas self-esteem occupied a more peripheral position. Clustering analyses revealed a cohesive organization among adaptive emotional resources. Conclusions: Emotional intelligence dimensions and related psychological resources can be conceptualized as a dynamically interacting system associated with emotional adaptation in military personnel. The identification of central components may contribute to the development of targeted interventions aimed at strengthening emotional regulation and psychological adaptation in high-demand environments.